Reclosing circuit breaker



J, I Q 1939.

' w. STABLEIN ET AL RECLOSING CIRCUIT BREAKER Filed Oct. 14, 1957 uth,

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Patented Jan. 31, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE RECLOSING CIRCUIT BREAKER New York Applicatiolrlil October 14,

1937, Serial No. 169,060

Germany October 29, 1936 6 Claims.

ple, a momentary voltage or circuit drop in the power network for executing switching signals or commands is caused by quickly opening and closing a breaker in one or more phases of the power circuit at the central station. The signals which can relate to the switching on and oil of street lighting, night demand apparatus, etc. may be periodic and coordinated as desired. Where the signals are used in power current networks, they may be picked up by a plurality of receivers distributed in the network. In this connection, it has been proposed that a single phase of the power network be interrupted according to a code for a very short duration, such as one cycle of the alternating current and that the interval between two or more such impulses be utilized for the signal characteristic.

The circuit breaker can be of any suitable type that is capable of interrupting a power circuit within one to three or four alternating current cycles. A greater duration may cause synchronous machines to fall out of step, etc.

In another application of the invention, the breaker may be readily adapted for automatic reclosing in case of a momentary fault in the power circuit. In such cases, it is highly desirable that continuity 'of service be maintained where the fault such as a lightning surge is of brief duration.

Our invention will be more fully set forth in the following description referring to the accompanying drawing, and the features of novelty which characterize our invention will be pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this specification.

Referring to the drawing, Fig. 1 is a partly diagrammatic perspective view of a reclosing circuit breaker mechanism embodying our invention in the closed circuit position, and Fig. 2 is a similar view of part of the mechanism in the open circuit position immediately prior to reclosure.

The circuit breaker proper, which as previously stated can be of any suitable type is generally indicated 'at and comprises a fixed contact 2 coacting with relatively movable contact structure such as the rod contact 3. The circuit breaker controls a power circuit indicated at 4. For the purpose of effecting circuit opening movement of the rod contact 3, a suitable operating device such as a solenoid 5 is operatively connected to the breaker through a crank 6 and shaft I in a manner presently set forth. The solenoid 5 can be suitably energized from a control source 8 by a switch diagrammatically indicated at 9. The switch 9 of course can be remotely controlled in a conventional manner such as by relays and the like. The solenoid 5 is also provided with a resetting spring l0 which is shown as directly connected through a crank H to the shaft I.

The movable contact 3 is operatively connected to the shaft 1 through a crank l2 and a hollow shaft l3 which is concentrically mounted with respect to the shaft 1 and is adapted to be locked thereto by meansof a locking or latching device generally indicated at H. Accordingly, when shafts l and I3 are locked together, energization of the solenoid 1 is effective to rotate both shafts in a clockwise direction, as viewed, so as to cause separation of the breaker contacts 2 and 3. When unlocked, the shaft I3 is freely rotatable independent of the shaft 1.

During this circuit opening movement an energy storing device, such as a spring |5 connected to the shaft l3 through a crank I6, is charged so that it tends to cause reclosure of the contact 3. By means of the locking device I! the connection between the shafts I and I3 can be broken after a predetermined circuit-opening movement so that the spring |5 is eflective instantaneously to cause reclosure of the contact 3 independently 'of the operating solenoid 5.

Referring more particularly to the locking device H, the shaft l3 which is suitably journaled at I! has secured thereto a locking disk l8 having a detent IS. The shaft 1 in turn has secured I thereto a latch carrying member on which a latching member 2| is pivotally mounted at 22. The latch 2| is biased toward itslatching position by a spring 23 and is provided with a vertical portion 24 for coacting with an adjustable stop member 25 and an offset portion 26 for coacting with the detent |9.

In the closed circuit position shown by Fig. 1 the latch. 2| through the offset portion 26 and detent l9 forms a releasable connection between the shafts and I3. In this position, operation of the solenoid 5 rotates both shafts in unison. When, however, the contact 3 reaches a predetermined position the latch portion 24 engages the adjustable stop 25 so as to cause rotation of the latch in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 2 and release of the detent 19. The unlooking or releasing operation at this instant is shown by Fig. 2. The stressed spring I5 is instantly effective after the releasing operation to rotate the shaft l3 counterclockwise at high speed to cause reclosure of the rod contact 3 independently of the solenoid 5.

Immediately upon reclosure of the breaker and deenergization of the solenoid the main operating shaft 1 is reset by the spring l0 so that the latch carrying member 20 assumes its original position shown in Fig. 1 wherein the latch 2| is again reset with respect to detent l9 and in readiness for another circuit opening operation.

The latch 21 can of course be controlled by a conventional over-current relay'instead of by the fixed stop member 25 if desired, so that the releasable connection is not necessarily broken with each circuit-opening operation of the breaker.

It should be understood that our invention is not limited to specific details of construction and arrangement thereof herein illustrated, and that changes and modifications may occur to one skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of our invention.

What we claim as new and desire to secure prising movable contact structure, a power storing device, means for charging said device and causing circuit opening movement of said contact structure, and means operatively related to said device for causing automatic reclosure of said contact structure independently of continued operation of said first-named means after predetermined opening movement thereof.

3. A high speed reclosing circuit breaker comprising movable contact structure, means for biasing said contact structure to closed circuit position, means for operating said contact structure to open circuit position against said biasing means, and releasable means interconnecting said biasing means and said operating means for causing high speed reclosing of said contact structure independently of said operating means.

4. A high speed reclosing circuit breaker comprising movable contact structure, means for biasing said contact structure to closed circuit position, means for operating said contact structure to open circuit position against said biasing means, and latching means for releasing said operating means with respect to said biasing means in response to predetermined circuit opening movement for causing high speed circuit reclosure.

5. A high speed reclosing circuit breaker comprising movable contact structure, a spring for biasing said structure to closed circuitposition, operating means for moving said structure to open circuit position against the bias of said spring, a latch for interconnecting said spring and operating means, and means for actuating said latch in response to predetermined circuit opening movement whereby said spring is efiective to reclose said contact structure independdently of said operating means.

6. A high speed reclosing circuit breaker comprising movable contact structure, a spring normally biasing said structure to closed circuit position, operating means for moving said structure to open circuit position, a releasable connection between said spring and operating means including a latch whereby said contact structure and operating means are interconnected during the initial circuit opening movement, and means co- .acting with said latch for releasing said connection in response to predetermined circuit opening movement whereby said spring is efiective to cause instantaneous reclosure of said contact structure independently of said operating means.

WILHELM s'rABLErN.

RAOUL WILLHEIM v 

